Steady start today, after all, it is Sunday!
I headed for Anarita Park. I took the top track hoping for a Roller sighting. No joy there but I did get great views of a Cyprus Wheatear. There was a noticeable influx of Whitethroats also. The weather was er unpredictable...still! Distant thunder was the precursor to yet another biblical downpour...
... which lasted long enough for me to check my List and start to plan my remaining strategy. Nothing of note was seen until I started to retrace my route. A small Bunting was feeding at the side of the road. It was obviously wet but I could see enough on it to be happy I had my first Ortolan. of the Trip.
After lunch I was wondering where to go for the afternoon when Louise said she fancied staying at the apartment, as she'd done a 4 mile walk this morning... and managed to dodge the downpour!
I decided to go back to Anarita Park and give it a thorough "go". I'd had some good sightings here over the Years but I always felt slightly underwhelmed by the Site? This time I entered by a lower track and immediately saw a Corn Bunting on the wire. Strangely elusive this Year for me, as they're usually all over this area.
As I turned the next bend I saw 3 similar Birds feeding on caterpillars by the roadside. All Whinchats, my first.
Once down in the Valley I decided to choose a likely spot and simply wait to see what turned up. This proved to be a very good idea.
Note: It's now 8.45pm here as I write and there's no way I can do justice to what happened next. So, I'm going to summarise...
Collared Flycatcher male
Wryneck
Wood Warbler
Lesser Kestrel
Red-rumped Swallows 6
Blue-cheeked Bee-eaters 4
I have photos of all but the Swallows but no time to do my tale justice tonight. I always limit photographs but I still have to go through them. Maybe Anarita Park isn't too bad after all!
Stay tuned...
Trip Total - 127 Species
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